Meknes is celebrating. Indeed, following the closing of the sixth edition of the Agriculture Conference, which His Majesty King Mohammed VI presided over on Tuesday at Sahrij Souani in Meknes, the opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the International Agriculture Fair in Morocco (SIAM 2013) was in full swing yesterday, Wednesday, April 24. And it was the Sovereign who kicked off this new edition. In this capacity, His Majesty toured the various stands of the Fair and greeted both Moroccan and foreign exhibitors. Also, after two days of exhibition reserved for professionals, the Fair opens its doors wide on Friday to all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest.

Also, under the High patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the SIAM, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, the Association of the International Agriculture Fair in Morocco, and the General Commission of the SIAM, returns in its new 2013 edition with the participation of 51 countries and the distinction of Belgium as the guest of honour.

Thus, as a true reference and unmissable annual meeting for the agricultural sector, both nationally and internationally, the SIAM aims each year to be a unique opportunity for professionals in the sector, farmers, or simple visitors to discover, learn, and exchange on all agricultural advances recorded while establishing new contacts with national and international partners. In this capacity, inscribed in a role of carrier and issuer of solutions, the SIAM works actively for the successful implementation of the Green Morocco Plan, a strategy for the development and upgrading of Moroccan agriculture initiated in 2008.

In this vein, the theme chosen for this eighth edition is "Agricultural Trade", with a programme featuring numerous conferences, a rich scientific programme, the signing of conventions, breed competitions, and an awards ceremony that will close this event next Sunday. A theme, therefore, that aims to carry an objective and a purpose converging towards the success of international openness.

It should be noted that since the advent and announcement of the Green Morocco Plan in 2008, the SIAM has quite naturally grafted itself onto this ambitious agricultural development strategy to become one of its supports and contribute actively to its proper implementation. In this capacity, the choice of this year's theme fits perfectly into this dynamic of aid and support for agricultural development. Indeed, agricultural trade encompasses all operations involved in the manufacturing and distribution of agricultural products from farm to table, namely the operations of production, storage, processing, distribution, and transformation of agricultural raw materials.

Also, the major objective of this eighth edition is to debate all these themes, while benefiting from international feedback.